Transportation chief tours Tennessee Nissan plant

The Obama administration has gone to great lengths recently to tout the successes of the American auto companies in Detroit, but Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Tennessee Tuesday talking up Nissan.
 
The Japan-based automaker has a sizable American presence, and the company is building new lithium car batteries at its Franklin, Tenn., plant. The batteries will be used for Nissan's Leaf electric vehicle, which is joining Chevrolet's Volt in the electrically powered car market.
 
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued several grants and loans to encourage the development of electric cars. LaHood said Tuesday that, with gas prices soaring, it was even more important that fuel-efficient cars be build in America.

"With gas prices at record highs, the Obama Administration has taken aggressive action to make sure families have access to fuel efficient vehicles that can help reduce their transportation costs," LaHood said in a statement.
 
"That's why I'm so thrilled to see the progress Nissan is making at its new manufacturing facility, where American workers will soon be building cutting-edge batteries for a new generation of electric vehicles that are good for the environment, good for the economy, and good for American consumers," he said.  
 
Last week, the White House said President Obama's tough love saved the U.S. auto industry in Detroit. Additionally, with polls showing voters are growing weary of high gas prices, the administration has a heightened interest in touting the production of the Leaf.